April2015 Connections Small Business Journal Final

APRIL 2015

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

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CONNECTIONS

bUSInESS

JOURNAL

LEARN FROM ABC’s SHARKTANK ENGAGING THE SOUL

OFFICEMAX - OFFICE DEPOT

GIVE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

A LOOK AT MINISTER COLEMAN

YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

A SPRING CLEAN

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page 12

page 15

APRIL 2015

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

Connections Small Business

contents 4 Letter From The Publisher

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Journal 10 Cool Small Business Technology!

5

Gregory A. Wilson

Small Business Spotlight

12 Office Max - Office Depot & 6 Increase SEO with Social

Owner/Publisher

Your Business

Media

13 Funny Business 7

Engaging The Soul - A Look

At Minister L. Coleman

8

Editor

14 Five Things That Can Hurt Or Kill Your Business

Learn From ABC’s SHARK-

TANK TV Show

Suzzy Abell

15 Spring Clean Your Small Business

Lutalo Aryee Social Media Expert & Columnist

20 Avoid Burnout Advertising connectionssbj@gmail.com

Sweet {} Savory {} Delectable {} Homemade {} Deserts Weddings - Birthdays - Babyshowers - Any Event

www.thinkofcake.com 706-329-1457

HOUR

POWER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

APRIL 2015

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Business questions MARketing strategies social media STRATEGIES much more Connections Small

BUSINESS

Journal

EACH TUESDAY - 11AM - IRON BANK COFFEE 6 - 11th St, Columbus, GA 31901

For More Info Call Greg Wilson - 706.289.7863 www.connectionssbj.com

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never give up!

W

elcome to the April issue of

Connections

Small

Business

24 hour days aren’t cutting it! It’s been said that time flies fast when

Journal!

you’re having fun,

NEVER GIVE UP! Three words that

As I reflect back over the course

when placed togather have a very

of previous years, I’d have to

powerful meaning.

admit that there were times that

It’s no secret that being an entre-

I wondered if it was worth it all.

prenuer, small business or a startup

I’ve wondered if the sleepless

isnt’t easy. Every single day, there

nights were worth it. I’ve won-

is a juggle of duties that all are

dered if the financial woes that

meant to keep your dream, and

I’ve experienced were worth it.

your business from drowning. NEV-

I’ve wondered if I was making a

ER GIVE UP!

difference in the small business

From economy woes to insuring

community. While I don’t have

that the marketing plan you’ve

an anwser to each of these ques-

initiated is working, there is always

tions, I’m fueled by an innate

much to do. Oh, let’s not forget

drive and a mind set to NEVER

about your personal life........kids,

GIVE UP!

school, and that long lost cousin

As you read this edition of Con-

who thinks that since you no longer

nections Small Business Journal,

punch a clock that you’ve “arrived”.

on one hand I want you to be

Yes, for the entreprenuer and small

informed, but I’d also like to en-

business owner, life is a constant

courage you to NEVER GIVE UP!

juggle. NEVER GIVE UP! If you are like me, you wish for

Greg Wilson

more hours in a day. For some odd

Owner/Publisher

reason, but it also flies just as fast when juggling the daily duties of operating a small business.

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

APRIL 2015

Small business tips aintaining a healthy cash flow is a big challenge for many small businesses. It can be hard to balance everything so that you have enough cash on hand to pay your bills and your employees.

The following are some quick tips to help you improve the cash flow of your small business.

business spotlight! # ramona terry

M

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Switch to Paperless Systems - Consider using electronic invoicing for customers. It uses less paper and you save on printing costs.

Encourage Faster Payments from Customers Invoicing immediately encourages customers to pay immediately. Offer incentives for early payment, like a future discount or reward program.

Earn More Cash With Your Cash - Place your cash in a bank account that offers interest bearing checking, savings and CSBJ - Staff Writer even CD accounts. Simply transfer the money to an account that your business uses when needed.

Put Your Credit To Work Obtain a credit card with a good interest rate and that offers cash rewards. Even consider one with loyalty rewards for those items that you use on a daily basis.

M

eet Ramona Terry,

owner of MDM- Million Dollar Massage in Columbus GA.

She had a passion and a

Visit her new location at 1300 Wynnton Road Suite 103 in

Colum-

bus, GA for the very best in massage services.

vision to help people relieve the stresses of their lives through massage therapy and that vision has been seen.

She offers the lowest prices in the Bi-City area hands down {pun intended}. In a year, she has moved to a larger facility and has contracted with another massage therapist - LaVerne Alfred.

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To recommend a small business to be highlighted in Columbus GA, please send an email to:

connectionssbj@gmail.com.

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APRIL 2015

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increase seo with social media Three steps to increasing your SEO with Social media

W

hile there are many steps you can take to increase your SEO (Search Engine Optimization), or how you rank in the search engines, with the use of Social Medial, here are three simple ways that will help you.

1. Your Facebook Page A Facebook Business/Fan Page or “Page” as Facebook calls it, will definitely help you with your SEO. Facebook is the largest social network on the planet. If you create a page and keep your page active, it will definitely help with your SEO. Keep in mind you are competing with other businesses similar to yours so you want to make sure that you keep your page active and interesting. If you can, try to make your business unique. You should post good content and information to your page daily. You should also invite your friends and customers to your page. Having an active Facebook Page will definitely keep your ranking in the search engines.

2. Actively uploading videos on YouTube If you really want to expose your product, service or business, you definitely want a presence on YouTube. Whether it is you or a person you designate, there should be some type of video that leaves great content about your business. YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, owned by the largest search engine, Google. If you apply the right technique and strategy you will definitely have great SEO uploading videos on YouTube.

The video you record should not be too long, really under five minutes. Two minutes or less is great, though each business is different. There are a number of ways to ensure your video helps with your SEO but make your video informative and interesting.

It’s probably not a good idea to always have a commercial or a sale. A viewer will appreciate you sharing information.

Let’s say you are a baker, talk about the benefits of your cupcake and how is will make the customer feel after it is eaten. You can also tell us a story about how you came about making this particular cupcake. Keep your videos simple. You should do at least one video a month. Make sure you share your video with friends, family and your customers.

3. Tweeting on Twitter Twitter can be used as an interactive Google where you can do a search, ask a question and more than likely get a response. With Twitter you can poll people and talk to people about an activity, event, store or restaurant. At times it gives you the opportunity to connect with celebrities. For Twitter to be beneficial to you with SEO, you want to make sure you are posting or “Tweeting” good information or content. With any social media “Content is Queen!”

Content is the driver to good SEO. You want to make sure that you are Tweeting

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that is related to your services.

If you have a blog, make sure that you Tweet your blog links. If you decided to do YouTube Videos, you want to Tweet those videos. You want to find good content to Tweet with information connected to your service or business.

You can find other article and blogs to Tweet. Most bloggers should not mind you Tweeting their articles. In most cases, it can help you and their SEO. You want to make sure that you are Tweeting on a daily basis, five or more Tweets a day. Always provide great content and communication with your followers, this will definitely help you with your Twitter growth and SEO.

Lutalo K. Aryee

If you have any questions about SEO or social media please don’t hesitate to give contact me. @lutaloaryee Lutalo K. Aryee Strategic Social Media Expert & Motivational Speaker

Lutalo K. Aryee & Greg Wilson

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APRIL 2015

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engaging the soul She is now full time in the ministry, and counsels’ adolescents that are troubled and in broken homes.

She also counsels women who are in domestic violence situations.

She has been blessed to be able to travel all over the United States speaking at different conferences empowering women.

C

an individuals learn to be resilient, or are some just born with the ability to bounce back from adversity?

Why not both? Minister L. Coleman Bowden is a living testimony of what can happen, if an individual is willing to work hard and allow a greater power to have full control of their life. She has learned to overcome difficulties, achieve happiness and attain success in life.

At the age of six she was molested by her family and written off by the closest person that a child at that age should which was her mother. She went to live with her father in Brooklyn NY at the age of six years of age. She grew and became a product of the street being addicted to drugs and alcohol. She met the father of her children at the age of 13. She married the same man at age of 15 and suffered through 15 years of abuse with the husband and father of her children. That abuse included being punched, choked and being thrown from a two-story window.

Through that union three beautiful children were born that she loves dearly.

She graduated with a BS in Social Science from Brooklyn College in 2003 and entered the ministry in 2004.

She was also ordained that same year at Grace Fellowship under Pastors Joseph and Yvette Lee. After a year and a half of service, she became the co-Pastor of the youth department.

After three years, she worked in Ministry in Atlanta, GA encouraging and empowering women to overcome in any domestic situation that they found themselves in. She has been able to travel and be the guest speaker on multiple occasions always doing what her passion is, and that this to empower women.

In 2009, she graduated from Lagrange College with a Masters in Human Resources with focus in Management.

She was diagnosed with stage three Cervical Cancer in 2012. Her resilient faith in God brought her thru that disease, and she has been cancer free for two years.

Her Ministry Engaging the Soul is growing by leaps and bounds. Her tireless effort and her ability to correctly deal with adversity enables her to positively empower each life that she touches.

Through the help of God, she is able to “Engage The Soul”

She is a member of Peaceful Holiness Church in Columbus, GA where the Pastors are Robert and Helen Parnell.

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APRIL 2015

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LEARN FROM ABC’s SHARKTANK -7-

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

S

APRIL 2015

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT One of the biggest mistakes that a small business owner or an entrepreneur can make is to walk into a discussion about something that they are clueless about. When dealing with investors, stick to what you know. You know your baby (business)! You birthed your business! So in many PLAN FOR GROWING cases stick with discussing YOUR COMPANY your business. If you are Are you currently coasting unaware of what something along, happy to be making is, don’t be afraid to admit a few dollars here and there it and move on. Display the While entertaining at times, this with your business? If so, are knowledge that you have reality TV show is a true reality. you thinking of ways to grow regarding your business and The show should however serve your business idea? If you are keep the focus there. a greater purpose beyond simple not considering ways to grow entertainment. The investors or your business then your profit KILL YOUR EMOTIONS “sharks” are wealthy millionaires potential is limited and you Killing emotion is serves as and billionaires who are looking are stunting the growth of one of the hardest things to add to their existing portfolios your business. Certain things for entrepreneurs to do. by investing in the entrepreneurs need to be considered when What makes it hard and that land on this reality show. planning to grow your busiexcruciatingly painful is the They each have made their marks ness. How will you be able to fact that many startups and achieved their own individual handle increased demand? eir blood, sweat, tears and brand popularity.

What resources do you need money into the concept of to insure that happens? Will their small business. They So what can a small business these changes and additional truly are emotionally vested owner, entrepreneur, or startup resources cut into your profit in their concept, that is watching this TV show margins? If so, this makes actually learn from it? Even if you your business less viable are not looking for venture capiovertime and thus less attractal, you can learn important busi- tive to potential investors. ness principles from the “sharks” and from watching contestants on Shark Tank. Connections Small Business Journal takes a look at a few things that those that fit these categories can learn from Shark Tank. ince it’s debut on TV, ABC’s critically-acclaimed business-themed show, Shark Tank has become a hit. It features small business owners and entrepreneurs who are seeking not only publicity but also financial investors in their businesses. The show has received a nomination for a Producers Guild Award in 2013. In 2012 Shark Tank received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program and a nomination for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Reality Series.

It’s simply an idea or dream.

Turn the idea or dream into a business. A business has a business plan, business goals, marketing techniques, an online presence and more importantly an individual who is committed to being more than a dreamer. Having each of these will provide the data that is necessary for an investor to consider your dream.

HAVE REAL DATA Investors are not dreamers. They have amassed their wealth by making smart business decisions that were based on real data. Dreams, while fluffy and exotic, don’t make money simply as a dream.

Dreams and ideas have to become a reality in order for it to grow. A dream doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a viable business.

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idea, or business. When this individual who is emotionally attached, is asked detailed questions or receives criticism emotion is hard to hide. An investor is looking for actual data. While emotion is good, having factual proof that your business is viable and can sustain itself is even better.

KNOW YOUR VALUE Are you aware of the current value of your small business?

One thing that a small busiess owner, entreprenuer or startup must know is their current value as well as their forcasted value. There are three ways to assign value.

They are: Asset Based Approach, Market Approach and Income Based Approach.

Taking an in-depth look at each of these will help you determine and know your value.

THINK LIKE A SHARK The world of small business is a “dog-eat-dog” world. It takes a special tenacity and fortitude to make it as a small business owner. It’s imperative at times to think like a “shark”. Sharks love to eat and rarely are eaten themselves. How is this possible?

The answer is as simple as elementary biology Sharks are predators.

So be smart, sharpen your wits, know your business and think like a predator. continued on page 12

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Cool Small Business Technology!

APPLE WATCH

Available 4.24.15

A

s we approach AW-Day, the naysayers are coming out to put their hand in front of the bottle of champagne that will be used to christen the S.S. Apple Watch.

The most prominent of those naysayers was Mark Wilson, a traditionally even-keeled fellow who, in his own way, is pushing the pro- and anti-Apple Watch argument forward. I won’t even debase his post with the term clickbait: he has a lot of good ideas and he comes from a place of love, not fanboi-ism.

So here I go with my prediction: the Apple Watch won’t be a flop, it will be a success. It will change multiple industries at once and force entrenched players to rethink every one of their strategies. The watch will grow a fascinating ecosystem of accessories and new industries dedicated to shrinking commerce, mapping, interaction, and dating down to a watch’s smaller real estate will be born. Until VR becomes seamless, the watch is the next notification and interaction frontier and if anyone is going to pierce that envelope it’s Apple. And they will sell millions.

Notifications Are Important One of the most important things you learn when using the Pebble watch is how important notifications are. Because every email and every Facebook interaction and every Tweet requires a mote of attention the process of pulling your phone out to assess the importance of a beep or a ding is demanding and maddening. I’ve done some of my best work with a Pebble on my wrist

(and, to a degree, Android Wear devices) because I could ignore my phone and instead note who or what was happening with a quick glance. This fractionation of attention is not ideal, but it’s better than the alternatives.

But millions of people don’t know this. They own smartphones and they know something is wrong when they whip them out at dinner but they can’t put their fingers on it. In one swoop, a working, highly interactive “second screen” on your wrist can solve many of these nagging feelings of distraction. While many will say that another screen is another distraction, it’s my hope that a smaller screen that is always within visual range will be superior.

Fashion Apple is a luxury brand. Its products are considered objects of desire around the world and there will be a massive influx of fakes and look-alike smartwatches that will ape the Apple Watch entirely. Discerning buyers around the world will see the entry level Apple Watch in the same way they see a classy fashion accessory and like it or not - 10 -

Burberry, Prada, and the like aren’t thriving because they sell better-made products. They’re thriving because they touch a special part of the limbic system that gains pleasure and increases reproductive potential by showing off biologically or financially expensive things – nice abs and Chanel purses included. These watches will be worn by people who would never don another wearable device.

The Time Has Come If you’ll recall, the first Microsoft Tablet PCs came out in 2001 and were, for all intents, acceptable devices.

Manufacturers kept trying to build new tablets – I recall convertibles, detachables, super-thin models, etc. – but no one quite got it.

Even as rumors of the iPad reached a fever pitch naysayers were still pointing to previous devices and saying the new Apple Pad would never fly. But it did fly. And it flew because Apple makes things people want to buy while most manufacturers make things that they want people to buy. Usable wearable has to arrive. It’s inevitable.

While I did enjoy the Moto 360 and some other devices, none of them fired my imagination quite as much as the Apple Watch. Android Wear devices show the potential for color-screen wearables and devices like the Fitbit and the Pebble show them in a stark, practical light. The Apple Watch, I believe, will connect those two sides – the ideal and the useful – into one product. That’s another thing Apple is good at. continued on page 11

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Cool Small Business Technology!

APPLE WATCH continued from page 10 People Are Already Wearing Watches People like watches. You might not wear a watch because you are a post-human mutant cyborg who can easily check the time on your phone (and that’s fine) but plenty of people still wear them, especially in Europe and Asia. A nice watch is a social signal and that’s the reason Apple is making their pieces in gold.

While some caviar-guzzling oligarch isn’t going to swap their Ulysses Nardin yacht-timer out for a Samsung Gear, they will wear a platinum Apple Watch with solid gold bracelet. It sounds ludicrous, I know, but I know enough about watchmaking to say it’s not nearly as ludicrous as it sounds.

As I’ve said before, the watch industry is in trouble. They can pull out of this trouble by doubling down on marketing and gathering the smartwatch users as they learn to love watches but they won’t pull out of it by building smartwatches for volleyball players. Watch wearing is about to come back in a big way and people who currently wear watches will switch. It’s going to be an interesting time, least of all for wrist-specific self-tanning liquid manufacturers.

Willy Ts was founded in Eufaula, AL back in 1993 and we continue carrying on the tradition of serving up fresh food in a great atmosphere with superior service.

Whether it’s our hand-breaded chicken fingers, 12+ flavours of buffalo wings, savory burgers, salads, wraps or seafood, we have what you’re looking for!

Everything is cooked fresh in our kitchen and delivered to your table with a smile!

In a hurry? Call ahead or stop by our fast and convenient drive thru!

We look forward to seeing you here at Willy T’s!

SCAN HERE

7325 Fortson Road Columbus, GA 31909

706 - 507 - 2210 www.willyts.net

- John Biggs To connect with CSBJ on your mobile phone.

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officemax - office depot your small business O

ne of the greatest indicators that small business is indeed BIG business is seeing large corporations develop work processes to attract and inform small business owners. Recently Office Max started the Office Max Business Corner in New Zealand, which is an online repository of information that assist the small business owner.

This merger has created a stronger, more competitive and more efficient global provider of office products, services and solutions. One of the solutions that will find its way to our small business arena is the Office Max Business Corner.

Office Depot, Inc. is currently a single source for everything customers need to make their workplaces more productive. This includes technology, essential office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, and furniture.

While the Business Corner is helpful to the small business owner or entrepreneur, it at the same time perfectly positions Office Max and Office Depot to make sales of literally anything office related.

Office Max and Office Depot are positioning themselves to be a one stop shop for both information and office sales.

While currently offered in New Greg Wilson Zealand, The Office Max BusiConnections Small ness Corner will become an Business Journal - Publisher online destination for both new and established entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their small businesses. The website boasts tools and resources that are helpful with anything regarding small business. They focus on four key areas which are as follows: Business Startup, Marketing, Growth & Cash flow, and finally Employer Resources.

LEARN FROM ABC’S SHARK TANK - continued from page 9 In conclusion, viewing Shark Tank isn’t simply entertainment. It can be viewed as valuable eduction that you can obtain absolutely for free!

Net time the show airs, pay close attention to the questions that the “sharks” ask and pay equal attention to the entrepreneurs that find themselves in the shark tank. © 2015 Connections Small Business Journal. All Rights Reserved.

Images courtesy of ABC.

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funny business

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five things that can hurt or kill your business N

othing is more inexcusable than a self-inflicted wound. A self-inflicted wound removes all outside excuses and places the blame entirely on the individual.

In small business this can also be the case. Even with a good business plan, marketing strategy and branding all in place, each of these can be voided by unrelated events that could be detrimental to your small business. Let’s look at five things that can hurt and even kill your small business.

Employees Hiring employees is a shot in the dark. Even with a great resume and a good interview, the reality is that some employees just don’t pan out. There is nothing that will immediately destroy the credibility of your business faster than a rude, aloof or uninterested employee. When hiring

employees for your business be sure to choose someone who has shown or demonstrated stability. Strong customer service skills is a a must of each and every employee. FIRE…yes FIRE… any employee who does not possess this attribute or doesn’t “buy-in” to your business model.

As a business owner, you should be bold enough to ask customers how your staff is doing. The people you hire are synonymous with your brand. If the interaction is good, the brand is good.

If the customer interaction fails, marketing money is being wasted. Save money by effectively training each employee.

A customer who is disappointed with your business, your level of service, etc. can permanently choose to no longer do business with you. Customers and those who support small businesses as a whole are very loyal and long-suffering, but once this same loyal and long-suffering customer has been disappointed on a consistent basis, they tend to walk away and never return.

Disappointment Disappointment alters buying behavior.

How many of us have experienced bad service? Bad service could be a rude employee or a hair in the salad that you had been craving all day! This disappointment can permanently push someone away from that establishment.

Well, the same holds true for those of us in business.

A customer who is disappointed with your business, your level of service, etc. can permanently choose to no longer do business with you. Customers and those who support small businesses as a whole are very loyal and long-suffering, but once

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this same loyal and long-suffering customer has been disappointed on a consistent basis, they tend to walk away and never return.

If a small business owner has become disconnected with the business unit or the product or service that they are offering, customers can sense this Customer disappointment can and will be less likely to be brought about by many visit your establishment things. These things can again. range from empty shelves at your store, over-hyped sales We’ve all experienced events, inferior service, long walking up to a countlines at the register, and cum- er or driving up to a bersome return policies. drive-thru window only to be greeted by a monoBe highly vigilant regarding tone-talking individual every area that generates whose body language customer disappointment and shows that they would correct them immediately. rather be somewhere else. We know how No Response unwelcome that interaction made us feel. If an This is somewhat of a very employee fails to show “sticky” area. It’s “sticky” be- enthusiasm, displays a cause we are all busy running lack of interest in your a business. However, depend- business, or exhibits aping on the business or service athy with your custhat you are offering, what’s tomers, these all add the point of promising you up to negativity for your will business. return the “call today” if you are not going Online Reputation to respond to customers during business hours? If What you say and do in there is an auto responder the privacy of your own for your email, then respond home is your own busiwithin the time frame that ness. Where you choose you have stated in that auto to spend your time unresponder. If you are spendwinding is also your busiing money on marketing and ness. However, what you advertising to reach consum- post on Facebook, Twiters, it is imperative for you to ter, and Instagram is not be reachable and responsive only read by hundreds, to your customers. thousands, even millions of people, it will be there A Loss of Enthusiasm and actually remembered for a very long time.

Are you enthused about being in business? Are continued on page 15 your employees or those who represent your business enthused about your business and serving your customers?

five things that can hurt or kill your business - continued Consumers and potential customers for your business are becoming more and more savvy.

In many cases, these consumers are searching online, even looking at your business’s social media presence before they make the decision to do business with you or not. Posting certain images or controversial topics are areas that should be shunned by a business owner. Post material that is centered around your business and not demeaning to you or your brand. It also does not hurt to post entertaining material as well that may catch the eye of those that are visiting it for the first time.

CSBJ - Staff Writer

ADVERTISE with CSBJ

Connect your business with people, resources & information Call 706.289.7863 - 15 -

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give your small business a spring clean

Y

es it’s spring again. While many are taking the time to throw away and pack away fall apparel and things from winter, this is a perfect time to spring clean your small business as well.

Spring cleaning your small busiuness requires more professional evaluation. Let’s take a look at a few ways to spring clean your small business.

as necessary, their original business plan isn’t useful anymore. In reality, you should just spend some time revisiting it once a year updating it to keep pace with changes in your company.

Moving Staff

It’s smart to take a minute to reflect on what needs your company has, which roles are Update Your Website and being filled well, which ones Social Media could possibly be better executed, which ones are no lonGo through and take stock of ger as crucial per changes in what your online presence is like. how your company operates, Is there some copy on your site and which new needs might that could be rewritten to sound necessitate redistribution of better or more accurately reflect staff responsibilities or role slight shifts in your target market, definitions, or might require or what kinds of services you are hiring one or two new people focusing on now? Is your brand entirely. being represented as effectively as possible? Now is a good time Consider Long-Term Goals to tighten things up and fix up all the little details that, although While you’re looking at your they don’t take a lot of effort, business plan, think about make a big impact. your long-term goals, both for the company and for your own Dust Off Your Business Plan working life. You might find that your expectations, needs, and ambitions are different Often, small business owners than they once were. think that just because their company is changed and adapted - 16 -

Maybe your concept of how your business should evolve has changed, or your perception of how the company will look down the road.

It’s totally okay for your goals to change – but you have to be aware of that.

If you determine that the over arching aspirations are the same, check in on your progress towards achieving them. What could you be doing more of? Are you gearing as many parts of your day – and your business practices – into moving in that direction, into feeding those goals?

Organize Your E-mail Organizing your e-mail can seem like a daunting task.

But if you take the time to do it, you will find that you become more organized and are less likely to miss and overlook those important e-mails from clients.

Whatever e-mail client that you use, create folders and/ or labels to “file away” important e-mails.

Literally Clean Your Office Purchase some cleaning supplies and literally clean your office. Clean the phones, keyboards, LCD screens, printers, etc. Open the windows for some fresh air. The smell of a clean office just might help your productivity.

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T

ammy Segura Insurance Agency Her brokerage will help you offers a wide range of products to obtain coverage that will help protect your family, small business, you save money. and assets.

Give her a call to make a free, She has relationships with nuno obligation appointment merous carriers that gives her the today … she is looking forward ability to find a company that best to hearing from you! fits each person’s needs … even the more ‘harder to qualify’ individuals!

Insurance Broker/ Business Consultant With a strong commitment to excellent customer service, she spends 2 Bradley Park Court time with each and every customer Suite C assessing their needs to ensure that Columbus, GA they receive the best products/services to help meet their goals. ­­­ 706-221-2771 www.tammysegura.com - 17 -

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As we at Barbers Driving School have worked with Tammy on several issues over the past couple of years, we have found her to be the absolute professional. Now we have former students reporting back to us and raving about how well they were treated and what amazing results she got for them. I can’t recommend her highly enough. If you have insurance needs, call Tammy today.

SCAN HERE

to view online

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be smart with your smartphone I

t’s no secret that the popularity of smartphones has grown exponentially over the last few years. New research from iSuppli indicates that smartphone sales will top a billion units a year by 2015 as the smartphone’s share of phone shipments rocketed from 15.8% in 2009, to 54.4% in 2014. As this trend continues to grow, we thought that it would be a good idea to discuss how you (the small business owner) can be smart with your smartphone.

Now one must admit, that running a small business can be both time consuming and tasking. More often than not, we find ourselves running out of time to get everything done in the office and on-the-go. Enter your favorite smartphone! Smartphones have made everyone more accessible than ever before.

The following, are ways that we can be smart with our smartphones and get things done in our individual businesses.

SOCIAL MEDIA Social Media is the fastest growing trend right now and the eastiest and in many aspects the cheapest way to connect with multiple people at one time.

Downloading Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and other social media apps directly to your smartphone will insure that you and your business are connected with your customers. To manage your social media posts, tools such as Tweetdeck and Hootsuite are available on your smartphone to make your business even more social media connected.

FILE MANAGEMENT With the invention of cloud based storage file management and file availability has never been easier. The days of having to wait until one was back in the office to access files or toting around external hard drives are essentially over. Cloud storage and management has made the office truly mobile.

Services such as BOX, Google Drive and Dropbox are all easy to use, mobile friendly and allow files to essentially be access from any device, anywhere.

COMMUNICATION Smartphones have made it increasingly easy to communicate more with employees, business partners and customers. Tollfree numbers made available from companies such as Grasshopper, eVoice enable customers to reach your business without incurring long distance charges. Google-voice provides an alternative phone number easily tied to your mobile number that allows the business owner to avoid publishing their personal number. Skype, Google Hang Outs allow video confrecning for those “out of the office” meetings.

EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT Apps such Groupme allow business owners to stay in touch with each employee and send out group or team messages.

Shift planning is available and is very useful in eliminating schedule related excuses and improves time clock - 19 -

management for those employees that are field based.

Yes running a small business can be tasking, but with a smart phone and the appropiate apps associated with it, running that small business just became a bit easier……………….if you are smart.

CSBJ Staff Writer

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

APRIL 2015

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avoid burnout R

unning your own business is demanding, dynamic and often unpredictable making it easy to experience burnout repeatedly and often. At the same time, however, there are five (5) fool proof ways to minimize and even avoid burnout before it happens. #1 Have a business plan Any entrepreneur who has ever asked for help in starting or growing their business has been repeatedly told the importance of having a plan, yet many still do not have one. As a result, they have nothing to turn to for direction when getting overwhelmed by day-to-day distractions.

By using a straightforward business plan outline and jotting down your ideas and objectives for each aspect of your business, you will have a road map to turn to for determining how much you might be getting off track and not seeing the forest through the trees. #2 Manage Cash Flow WeeklyOne of the most common reasons people go out of business is lack of cash flow. This can happen when there are not enough revenues being generated, but it can also happen when a business is growing, sales are increasing, and yet the timing between getting paid and having to cover expenses related to growth is such that there is no money to pay the bills. By using a cash flow worksheet, you can stay on top of cash flow to the penny each day, each week and so on.

This will allow you to know in advance if there is going to be a gap and so you can proactively address ways to secure additional capital as needed, or postpone spending. #3 Understand and Track Breakeven Another common source of burnout for many business owners is that they do not understand breakeven. Another common source of burnout for many business owners is that they do not understand breakeven.

These objectives may then be broken down in to specific tasks of work each week. By using a weekly planning tool, everyone in the organization knows what they have to do, progress can be tracked, obstacles can be overcome through teamwork and achievements can be celebrated. #5 Surge and Recover -

Beyond any business planning tool, process or system is a little bit of Breakeven is simply knowing at common sense, which can any time, whether the business go a long way to avoiding is making more money than burnout. With so much it is spending. Ideally, there is competing for our attenmore money coming in than tion today at any given going out, which means that moment of any given day, the business is operating prof- it is important to take time itably. to step back, shut off the cell phone, ignore email Using bookkeeping software and recover. such as QuickBooks, or working with a local CPA firm or other This may be as simple as financial advisor on a routine taking a walk, going for a basis, is critical in this regard. run, or just sitting quietly.

One sure way to avoid burnout Practicing this habit each is knowing at the end of each day provides a sure way month that your business is for helping you to run operating profitably. your business and not let it run you. #4 Use a Time Planning Schedule -

SCAN HERE

There are many different time planning tools available. The important point is to use one and use it regularly. This is also important if you have staff.

The objective is that each person in the business is aware of their respective long term objectives.

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To connect with CSBJ on your mobile phone.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

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financing beyond the box U

npredictable economic environments, cancelled credit lines, called business loans and little-to-no new business funding has people getting creative startup funding for start-ups. If you think they have their heads in clouds, you may be correct!

Crowd Funding, also referred to as cloud funding, social funding and crowd source capital, is a relatively new and fast-growing practice that involves leveraging social media to fund business initiatives.

Unlike traditional funding approaches, money raised through Crowd Funding might not have to be paid back, typically doesn’t require collateral or guarantees, and there’s no giving up equity or control.

Sources include Spot.

Us, IndieGoGo, RocketHub, Funding4Learning, Invested.In, Kickstarter, Pledge Music and SellaBand.

These are just a few examples. Each program represents a different set of terms and conditions, as well as industry or project focus. For more examples and a further overview of how it all works, visit Crowd Funding resources on your search engine of choice.

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

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be connected to people, resources and information

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

APRIL 2015

www.connectionssbj.com

be connected to people, resources and information

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Columbus Edition

APRIL 2015

www.connectionssbj.com

be connected to people, resources and information

SCAN HERE

To connect with CSBJ on your mobile phone.

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ADVERTISE with CSBJ

Connect your business with people, resources & information Call 706.289.7863

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Stay Connected To People, Resources & Information www.connectionssbj.com For more information, contact Owner/Publisher: Greg Wilson Phone: 706.289.7863/256.474.5216 or Email: connectionssbj@gmail.com

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CONNECTIONS SMALL

bUSInESS

JOURNAL

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